The full title of this album is : Rod McKuen– The Loner And 13 Other Rod McKuen Songs Of Love And Loneliness.
If ever there was an accurate album title it’s this albums title.
That’s not to say McKuen is one note though many would. Would anyone dare say that about Leonard Cohen? (well you can’t because he is a sacred cow). McKuen’s themes may seem a little one note because they are consistent over dozens of albums. You know, you may be forgiven for thinking John Wayne only made western films because he made so many good ones. Likewise. with McKuen you may think he only sings songs about (lost) love and loneliness because he has written do many good ones and, errrr puts out albums called " The Loner And 13 Other Rod McKuen Songs Of Love And Loneliness ".
The truth is, though, McKuen does write other songs (just like Wayne acted in many great non westerns) but he is identified with these types of songs.
But McKuen (like Wayne) explores the different sides of his (identified) persona. He looks at both the solemn and lighter side of love (and loneliness). And, interestingly, he is more upbeat than downbeat (the serious tastemakers wouldn’t like that …and it’s easier to be downbeat, especially in a post-modern world).
In an earlier comment I said this about McKuen, "He certainly is poetic (and has published volumes of poetry to prove it), unashamedly romantic, thematically consistent, always world weary with an old mans (or a wise mans) attitude even when he was young, and with a voice that sounds as if it had lived".
His loneliness and search for love isn’t solemn though. Perhaps he got a little more solemn as time went on but here he has upbeat and up-tempo songs. There is some (inwardly cynical) braggadocio and some (outwardly intended) humour. There are songs which sit back and observe and then there are the "lonely" songs. The truth is, all the songs are from those on the margins of emotions and society. McKuen ,ever a west coast Beatnik, had the outsiders view and identified with the marginalised, the sad, the lonely and the lost.
In that earlier comment I also said, "Again I direct you to his bio links but in short McKuen was born in California in 1933, never knew his father, was abused by his stepfather, hit the road early, was a lumberjack, DJ, cowboy, did some acting in the 50s and appeared in some films, wrote poetry with the Beats, read poetry with Kerouac and Ginsberg, sang upmarket folk, then jazz, sang with Lionel Hampton’s band, wrote songs (1500 apparently), covered many songs, put out vocal albums, hung out and wrote songs with Jacques Brel, lived in all the usual American expatriate places in the world, sold 65 million books of poetry, put out many spoken word albums, sold out spoken word concerts, sold out musical concerts, composed film music, composed orchestral suites, conducted orchestras, was a quiet radical, won many humanitarian awards … so give him a break".
This album has a big production. I’m not sure why. In the absence of an autobiography it sounds as if it was imposed by RCA but, who knows, given that McKuen himself was not adverse to old style big band arrangements. Jack Nitzsche arranged four of the songs.
The album is not "early" in his career, but it is "early" after he started to become noticed. There is a little of his early 60s still in the sound as well as a look towards his late 60s and 70s sound. I think there is a little groping around, looking for the style that ultimately became his.
With that in mind the songs don’t always hit the right spots. The songs themselves are fine but sometimes the instrumentation gets in the way. I’m not sure where the market is for this stridently MOR sound is or rather , was – but the 60s was about pushing boundaries of music, and even the MOR pushed boundaries.
Either way, I don’t find a problem with any of this but that’s because I like McKuen.
I know other may find it hard to approach but think a less country Lee Hazlewood or perhaps a Rick Rubin era Johnny Cash.
All the songs are written or co-written by McKuen.
Tracks (best in italics)
- Some Trust In Chariots – Bouncy, and at first un-involving, the hook sucks you in. Quite jarring though for a Rod McKuen song. But quite indicative of some of his earlier work.
- People Change – This is more like it. A song about "change" Some beautiful lyrics. There are some unnecessary sound affects but that it a minor complaint. And who knows … one day sound effects may become "in" again.
- How Deep Is Down – great title …sounds like something from a soundtrack but with more perceptive lyrics
- When Flora Was Mine – lost love – of course …beautifully melancholy
- If You Go Away (Ne Me Quittes Pas) – A magnificent song. Written by the great French singer, Jacques Brel, with Rod who does the English lyrics. Very much a French chanson song but the lyric is equally compelling in French (and even in Croatian if you have heard the Croat, Ibrica, doing the same). The music perfectly fits the lyric.
If you go away on this summer day
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in a summer sky
And our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the night was long
And the moon stood still for the nightbird’s song
If you go away
If you go away
If you go away
- So Long San Francisco – how many songs are there about San Francisco? This is a good ‘un and I can see Tony Bennett doing this as an adjunct to his "I left my heart in San Francisco"
- The Loner – a song which could be a theme song to a contemporary (1966) western. Kitsch but entertaining.
- Solo – a Mexican feel with mariachi horns. Mexico meets bohemia on a Hollywood film set. Well, McKuen was an actor in Hollywood in the 50s so something must have rubbed off.
- The Lonely Things – Beautiful, a bit of Samba meets the south seas here.
- She – a romantic piece of dramatic fluff, but not overly dramatic. The song had already been recorded by Glenn Yarbrough, Danny Kaye, The Righteous Brothers and Shirley Jones.
- The Good Times Is All Done Now – a big ballad, and quite good.
- Truck Stop – an ode to truck drivers and their constantly on the move ways
- Thank You – a love song and a beautiful one at that. Some great lyrics. But the syrup will put people off. A pity, for them.
- I Turn To You – this comes across as a theme song to a Euro spy adventure film from the 60s. Not a bad place to be in.
And …
Great fun …. I’m keeping it.
Chart Action
US
Singles
Album
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England
Singles
Album
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Sounds
Some Trust In Chariots
People Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8W7Veb06Hk
How Deep Is Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCFgvGjJvmY
If You Go Away (Ne Me Quittes Pas)
a later version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfziQHKQpfc
the MP3 from this album
So Long San Francisco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id9MIb1f20k
Thank You
MP3 attached
Others
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26w-KYmbb3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S0KMI2L0zk
Review
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Bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_mckuen
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rod-mckuen-mn0000243803
Website
http://www.mckuen.com/
Trivia
• The Goat could, possibly, identify in the wandering, comtemplative Beatnik persona. Happy Birthday Goat !
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